FF7/WorldMap Module/Encounters - Revision history

Mav: /* Random encounter table */

2025-08-13T11:41:17Z

‎Random encounter table

Mav: /* Random encounter mechanics */

2025-01-15T16:38:58Z

‎Random encounter mechanics

Mav: /* Random encounter mechanics */

2025-01-02T09:54:39Z

‎Random encounter mechanics

Mav: /* Introduction */

2025-01-02T09:49:49Z

‎Introduction

Mav at 09:32, 2 January 2025

2025-01-02T09:32:12Z

Mav: Initial version

2025-01-02T09:27:17Z

Initial version

New page

== Introduction ==

World map random encounter data is stored in the "enc_w.bin" file in the world_xx.lgp archive (on the PC version). Battles are selected based on the [[FF7/WorldMap_Module#Regions|region]] and [[FF7/WorldMap_Module#Walkmap|walkmap type]] of the [[FF7/WorldMap_Module#Triangle|current triangle]].

NOTE: The enc_w.bin file contains only data for first 16 regions. Any region later than that will receive encounters from region 16.

Additionally Hill Side type battle will use the table for Grass type, and Gold Saucer Desert type will use the table for Desert type.

== Random encounter mechanics ==

For each region the enc_w.bin file contains 4 sets of encounters for different walkmap types. Which four are these will be used is decided using a lookup table (stored at address '''0x96dea0''' on PC), that maps regions to one of four walkmap types for each of four encounter sets.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Region to walkmap type look-up table
|-
! Region !! Type 1 !! Type 2 !! Type 3 !! Type 4
|-
| Midgar Area || Grass || Dirt || <unused> || Beach
|-
| Grasslands Area || Grass || <unused> || <unused> || Beach
|-
| Junon Area || Grass || Dirt || Forest || Beach
|-
| Corel Area || Grass || Mountain Pass || <unused> || Beach
|-
| Gold Saucer Area || Grass || Dirt || Desert || Beach
|-
| Gongaga Area || Grass || <unused> || Jungle || Beach
|-
| Cosmo Area || Grass || Dirt || Canyon || Beach
|-
| Nibel Area || Grass || <unused> || Forest || Beach
|-
| Rocket Launch Pad Area || Grass || <unused> || Forest || Beach
|-
| Wutai Area || Grass || Dirt || Wutai Bridge || Beach
|-
| Woodlands Area || Grass || Dirt || Jungle || Beach
|-
| Icicle Area || Grass || Snow || Snowfield (Dirt) || Beach
|-
| Mideel Area || Grass || Dirt || Jungle || Beach
|-
| North Corel Area || Grass || <unused> || Desert || Riverside
|-
| Cactus Island || Grass || <unused> || Desert || <unused>
|-
| Goblin Island* || Grass || <unused> || Forest || <unused>
|}

After deciding whether a random battle should occur the game first performs the Mystery Ninja check. For each of 16 regions it consults a lookup table ('''0x96dee0''' on PC) for a chance (out of 256) if a Yuffie fight should start.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Yuffie encounter chances per region
|-
! Region
! Chance
|-
| Junon Area
| 12.5% (32/256)
|-
| Gongaga Area
| 25% (64/256)
|-
| Nibel Area
| 25% (64/256)
|-
| Rocket Launch Pad Area
| 99.6% (255/256)
|-
| Woodlands Area
| 50% (128/256)
|-
| Mideel Area
| 50% (128/256)
|-
| Goblin Area*
| 50% (128/256)
|}

''* this also includes all following regions (Round Island being the only one where encounters are possible)''

If that check succeeds the game checks whether player is either on Forest or Jungle type triangle and if Yuffie is available for fightning (based on bit 1 from variable '''0x0D29''' from the [[FF7/Savemap#Save_Memory_Bank_3.2F4|Savemap Memory Bank 3]]). If this succeeds too game determines which battle scene to use based on Cloud's level, using the 1st table stored in enc_w.bin.

Next are checks for Chocobo fights. If the [[FF7/WorldMap_Module#Triangle|current triangle]] has the "chocobo tracks" flag set the game checks for the presence of Chocobo Lure and then also if current model is either Cloud, Tifa or Cid. If the Chocobo Lure check succeeds it proceeds to choose one of of 4 possible chocobo battles in this area. Based on the selected scene ID the chocobo rating is selected (see "Chocobo rating mapping" table below) using the 2nd section from enc_w.bin file and is stored in memory (at '''0xdc0cd8''' on PC).

Finally the game does separate checks for special battles (back, side and pincer attacks) and if they fail it will pick one from the 6 normal random battles.

For more in-depth information consult Terence Fergusson's excellent [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps/197341-final-fantasy-vii/faqs/31903 Enemy Mechanics FAQ] document (section 3.1 has a detailed write-up on all the above).

== enc_w.bin file format ==

=== Overview ===

The enc_w.bin file is divided into three sections:

{| class="wikitable"
! Offset
! Size
! Description
|-
| 0x00
| 32 bytes
| Yuffie encounter mapping
|-
| 0x20
| 128 bytes
| Chocobo encounter ratings
|-
| 0xA0
| 2048 bytes
| Random encounter table
|}

The format of each of these sections is as follows:

=== Yuffie encounter mapping ===

Contains 8 records, each 4 bytes long, that maps Cloud's current level to battle's Scene ID that will be started.

{| class="wikitable"
! Offset !! Size !! Description
|-
| 0x00 || 2 bytes || Cloud's Level
|-
| 0x02 || 2 bytes || Scene ID
|}

=== Chocobo rating mapping ===

32 records, each 4 bytes long, mapping the scene ID to the rating of the chocobo if caught.

{| class="wikitable"
! Offset !! Size !! Description
|-
| 0x00 || 2 bytes || Chocobo battle scene ID
|-
| 0x02 || 2 bytes || Chocobo rating (1 = wonderful, ..., 8 = terrible)
|}

=== Random encounter table ===

This section is 2048 bytes long and contains 16 sections for each region (as mentioned before regions 17 and later will receive encounters from region 16).

Each section contains 4 sets of 32-byte blocks for each walkmap type (see above on how walkmap types are decided) that are as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
! Offset !! Size !! Description
|-
| 0x00 || 1 byte || Encounters active? (0 = no, 1 = yes)
|-
| 0x01 || 1 byte || Encounter rate
|-
| 0x02 || 12 bytes || Normal encounters
|-
| 0x0E || 4 bytes || Back attack encounters
|-
| 0x12 || 2 bytes || Side attack encounters
|-
| 0x14 || 2 bytes || Both sides encounters
|-
| 0x16 || 8 bytes || Chocobo encounters
|-
| 0x1E || 2 bytes || Padding (Always 00's)
|}

Each encounter record is 2 bytes long, with the first byte being the encounter ID and the second byte being the encounter rate (only the first six bits are used).

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:41, 13 August 2025
Line 167:		Line 167:
	\|}		\|}

−	Each encounter record is 2 bytes long, with the first ~~byte~~ being the encounter ID and the ~~second byte~~ being the encounter ~~rate (only the first six bits are used)~~.	+	Each encounter record is 2 bytes long, with the first 6 bits being the encounter rate and the remaining 10 bits being the encounter ID.

@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 | 50% (128/256)
 |-
-| Goblin Area*
+| Goblin Island*
 | 50% (128/256)
 |}

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 ! Region !! Type 1 !! Type 2 !! Type 3 !! Type 4
 |-
-| Midgar Area || Grass || Dirt || <unused> || Beach
+| Midgar Area || Grass || Wasteland || <unused> || Beach
 |-
 | Grasslands Area || Grass || <unused> || <unused> || Beach
 |-
-| Junon Area || Grass || Dirt || Forest || Beach
+| Junon Area || Grass || Wasteland || Forest || Beach
 |-
 | Corel Area || Grass || Mountain Pass || <unused> || Beach
 |-
-| Gold Saucer Area || Grass || Dirt || Desert || Beach
+| Gold Saucer Area || Grass || Wasteland || Desert || Beach
 |-
 | Gongaga Area || Grass || <unused> || Jungle || Beach
 |-
-| Cosmo Area || Grass || Dirt || Canyon || Beach
+| Cosmo Area || Grass || Wasteland || Canyon || Beach
 |-
 | Nibel Area || Grass || <unused> || Forest || Beach
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 | Rocket Launch Pad Area || Grass || <unused> || Forest || Beach
 |-
-| Wutai Area || Grass || Dirt || Wutai Bridge || Beach
+| Wutai Area || Grass || Wasteland || Wutai Bridge || Beach
 |-
-| Woodlands Area || Grass || Dirt || Jungle || Beach
+| Woodlands Area || Grass || Wasteland || Jungle || Beach
 |-
-| Icicle Area || Grass || Snow || Snowfield (Dirt) || Beach
+| Icicle Area || Grass || Snow || Snowfield (Wasteland) || Beach
 |-
-| Mideel Area || Grass || Dirt || Jungle || Beach
+| Mideel Area || Grass || Wasteland || Jungle || Beach
 |-
 | North Corel Area || Grass || <unused> || Desert || Riverside

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 World map random encounter data is stored in the "enc_w.bin" file in the world_xx.lgp archive (on the PC version). Battles are selected based on the [[FF7/WorldMap_Module#Regions|region]] and [[FF7/WorldMap_Module#Walkmap|walkmap type]] of the [[FF7/WorldMap_Module#Triangle|current triangle]].
-NOTE: The enc_w.bin file contains only data for first 16 regions. Any region later than that will receive encounters from region 16.
+'''NOTE: The enc_w.bin file contains only data for first 16 regions. Any region later than that will receive encounters from region 16.'''
 Additionally Hill Side type battle will use the table for Grass type, and Gold Saucer Desert type will use the table for Desert type.

@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 | Goblin Island* || Grass || <unused> || Forest || <unused>
 |}
 After deciding whether a random battle should occur the game first performs the Mystery Ninja check. For each of 16 regions it consults a lookup table ('''0x96dee0''' on PC) for a chance (out of 256) if a Yuffie fight should start.